Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) synthetic power steering fluid help

[BlitzkriegSSII]

I live in Alaska so it gets quite cold out here. I want to do something about the power steering noise when its cold. When I first start the truck I get a lot of noise out of the PS pump and its a little harder to steer. Will the synthetic power steering fluid help or is there something else that will?



Just wondering what yall use out there.



I have used Royal Purple for other stuff just not power steering yet.

 

[SBall]

Worked wonders!

Switching to synthetic power steering fluid worked wonders for me. Since doing so, there's been absolutely no noise or power steering issues at all.



Prior to purging the OEM fluid and switching to synthetic, I had the same issues you describe any time the temperatures dropped into the teens (deg/F) and below.

 

[griggsd]

Switched to Redline at 30K miles due to same symptoms; 110K miles since with no problems or symptoms whatsoever.

 

[gathomas]

You didn't say what year truck you have, plus I'm assuming it's 4x4... all of this info factors into whether you need ATF Fluid or Power Steering Fluid... . My recommendation... Amsoil... its the only purely Synthetic on the market... of course the choice is yours

 

[JCyrbok]

Vavoline Synpower ps fluid did wonders for the groan and "catchiness" of my cold steering. Unfortunately I think they stopped making it.



J-

 

[BlitzkriegSSII]

Its a 2002 4X4, thanks for the help!

 

[1tuffram]

Vavoline Synpower ps fluid did wonders for the groan and "catchiness" of my cold steering. Unfortunately I think they stopped making it.



J-

I contacted Valvoline a few months back about the Synpower PS fluid. They said the name was changed and is now called thier Max Life PS fluid.

 

[JCyrbok]

I contacted Valvoline a few months back about the Synpower PS fluid. They said the name was changed and is now called thier Max Life PS fluid.

cool that is good to know. I only have enough to do mine one more time with the Synpower.



J-

 

[BlitzkriegSSII]

How much does it take to do it?

 

[Joe Mc]

Get a quart, pull as much of the old fluid out as you can with a Turkey baster fill it to the correct level then see how much you have left in the quart, drive a few days, repeat, drive a few more days, repeat - etc about 4 times and you're good then just do the same thing in the spring.

 

[DMcLeod]

Fellow Alaskan - The PS pump whined in the cold on my 2001 also - and steering was a bit stiff. Even warmed up it would whine at temps below about -20F. When Amsoil came out with the synthetic fluid a couple of years back, I switched from the factory fluid. I used a baster to remove as much as possible from the pump reservoir, then took the return line off and pointed it into a container. Then I fired up the Cummins, turned lock to lock (front end jacked up) a few times with helper keeping the pump reservoir full of fresh fluid. You can see the fluid color change exiting the return line when the old fluid is worked through the system. I think a "complete" fluid flushing is difficult due to all the system components (hydroboost, steering gear, etc. ). The best part is that I no longer hear any whining at all! Switching to Synthetic worked for me.



I used a couple of quarts or so using this method.

 

[WILLD420]

I put redline in mine last summer. Took 2 bottle of stopleak and a quart of ATF+4 to get it to quit leaking out of the pump. I guess the o-ring on the pump must not like how easy the good stuff flows.

 

[Crazy Horse]

Just wondering what yall use out there.

I did the same thing DMcLeod did. Between 3 trips driving, I drained out the reservoir with a baster to remove as much as possible and refilled with Amsoil PS Fluid. It took a little over 2 quarts to complete and 20 - 30 below no whinning noise.